Creation of playlists using audio identification

ABSTRACT

A method for creating a playlist uses audio clips (i.e. a segment or portion of predetermined or selectable audio content from an audio data file) for audio data file recognition. Attributes of an audio clip may be selectable by the user such as length of playing time, audio file portion, an audio file category, data in an ID3 tag or the like. A user interface allows the user to add identifying data representative of an audio data file associated with an audio clip to the playlist. The method is applicable to all types of devices that play back audio content from a multitude of stored audio content. In particular, the method includes playback of an audio clip from each one of a set of audio data files during the playing of the audio clip. During playback of a particular audio clip, the user may add the selection to the playlist. Particularly, identifying data representative of an audio file associated with the currently playing audio clip is added to the playlist in response to user input. A user interface allows, for example, a single button or control to add content to a default, currently selected, or selectable playlist.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 365 of theInternational Application, PCT/US2004/012459, filed Apr. 23, 2004, whichwas published in accordance with PCT Article 21(2) on Nov. 11, 2004 inEnglish and which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 60/465,156, filed Apr. 24, 2003.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to creation of playlists on a storagedevice for digital content and, more particularly, to the creation ofplaylists on a storage device for digital audio content using audioidentification.

2. Background Information

Music and other types of audio and/or audio programming is available asdigital audio data that can then be used by devices capable of readingand/or playing digital audio data. The digital audio data is alsotypically stored in the device. While the personal computer (PC) is onetype of device that stores and plays digital audio data, lately, the useof portable audio data players capable of playing digitally encodedaudio data has become commonplace.

In particular, relatively small handheld devices that can processdigitally encoded audio data stored on solid state memory devices havebecome popular. Additionally, as demand has increased for higher datastorage capacity in portable audio data players, another generation ofplayers has been developed and is gaining popularity. These portableaudio data players include miniaturized high capacity storage devices,for example hard drives.

In the typical audio data player, the digital audio data is loaded intoa data storage device by first downloading the data to a PC from anaudio CD, the Internet, or another source of digital audio data. Thedata may be in compressed form according to a selected encoding format,or subsequently compressed, and loaded into the data storage deviceassociated with the audio data player. The audio data is decompressedand/or decoded by the audio data player during playback according to theselected encoding format. A variety of encoding formats for compressingand decompressing audio data is available. One such encoding format isMP3.

Audio data file management programs that allow the user to manipulatethe audio data files, such as to create and edit what are known areplaylists (i.e. lists of identifying data associated with selected audiodata files). The playlists can then be used by the PC and/or downloadedto a portable audio data player and used for playing a particularsequence of audio data files in accordance with the identifying datastored therein. Portable audio data players now have various featuresand/or functions that allow the user to manipulate the audio data filesthrough its own audio data file management programs, features and/orfunctions, including playlists.

However, no matter whether a PC-based audio data file management programor a portable audio data player program is utilized to create aplaylist, the current manner of creating playlists is a difficult andtime-consuming process. Often, people do not even bother to createplaylists because of the effort required.

One problem is that devices that allow users to create playlists arebased on visual identification of audio content, for example, through adisplay of the song title. Once the user recognizes the audio contentthrough visual indicia, the user may then add the audio content to theplaylist. This manner of creating playlists proves to be difficult andnot be intuitive to the user since it requires the user to rely solelyon his or her memory to recognize the selection or associate the contentto the title or other visual indicia. Often visual indicia, such as thesong title, may not be familiar to the user, or be easily associatedwith the actual song. In the event that the user does not recognize amusical selection by the visual indicia, he or she must select the songin question to be played, listen for a period of time, and then stop theplaying of the selection when it has recognized and either selected forthe playlist or actively not selected for inclusion on the playlist.This may be particularly problematic where the device may potentiallyinclude thousands of songs.

It is quite evident from the above that the current process for creatingplaylists is rather time consuming and/or cumbersome in view of thenumber of steps required for playlist creation.

It is thus evident from the above discussion that what is needed is aneasier and/or more user intuitive manner of creating playlists.

It is thus further evident from the above discussion that what is neededis a device that allows playlist creation based on audio identification,audio indicia and/or audio content.

It is still further evident from the above discussion that what isneeded is a device that incorporates the above needs.

These needs and others are accomplished through application of theprinciples of the subject invention and/or as embodied in one or morevarious forms and/or structures such as are shown and/or describedherein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method, applicable to all types of devices that play back audiocontent from a multitude of stored audio content, for creating aplaylist uses audio clips (i.e. a segment or portion of predetermined orselectable audio content from an audio data file) for audio data filerecognition. A user interface allows the user to add identifying datarepresentative of an audio data file associated with an audio clip tothe playlist during playing of the audio clip. In this manner,recognition of an audio data file is accomplished through audio indiciaassociated with the audio file, which is easier and more intuitive forthe user.

In particular, the method includes playing back an audio clip from eachone of a set of audio data files in response to user input. Duringplayback of a particular audio clip, the user may add the selectioncorresponding to the audio clip being played to the playlist by pressingthe appropriate key or input device on the player. Particularly,identifying data representative of an audio file associated with thecurrently playing audio clip is added to the playlist in response touser input.

Attributes of audio clips may be selectable by the user. Defaultsettings may be used or the user may select to customize one or moreaudio clip attributes settings. Such attributes include length ofplaying time (audio clip duration), the particular or predeterminedportion of the audio file to play (audio clip segment or portion), anaudio file category, data in an ID3 tag (in the case of an MP3 audiodata file) and/or the like.

In one form, there is provided a method of compiling a playlist fordigital audio data files. The method includes the steps of: (a)selecting a set of digital audio data files in response to a first userinput; (b) sequentially playing an audio clip from each one of theselected audio data files; and (c) including identifying datarepresentative of the digital audio data file associated with acurrently playing audio clip to the playlist of digital audio data filesin response to a second user input.

The subject invention provides a method for creating playlists thatgreatly improves the speed of playlist creation and provides an overallbetter user experience than existing methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention itself will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of one embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of a portable audio data player inwhich the subject invention may be utilized;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the portable audio data player of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the portable audio data player of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the portable audio data player of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary manner of operation of the presentinvention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. Although the drawings representembodiments of the invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scaleand certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrateand explain the present invention. The exemplification set out hereinillustrates one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and suchexemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment disclosed herein is not intended to be exhaustive orlimit the invention to the precise form disclosed, but rather isdescribed in a manner that others skilled in the art may utilize itsteachings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of portable audio data player 10 in whichthe subject invention may be utilized and/or embodied. It should beappreciated that the portable audio data player 10 is only exemplary ofthe type of device or component that may utilize and/or embody theprinciples of the subject invention. As such, the portable audio dataplayer 10 is representative of those other devices and/or componentsutilizing and/or embodying the present invention, some but notnecessarily all of which may be discussed herein. Such other devicesinclude hard drive and flash memory audio data players, compact discplayers, DVD players, and PVR products and/or the like.

The general arrangement and operation of the various elements ofportable audio data player 10 are described herein both in general andin the context of the present invention. However, the details of thevarious elements of audio data player 10 are well known to those skilledin the art and will not be discussed in detail here. Audio data player10 comprises microcontroller (controller) 22 that controls the variouselements and the overall operation of audio data player 10, includingtransferring data from data storage 32, through buffer memory 25, and toaudio decoder digital signal processor (DSP) 12. Microcontroller 22includes a suitable amount of memory 23, for storing various instructionsets and programs for controlling the operation of audio data player 10including carrying out or implementing the principles of the presentinvention. As pointed out in greater detail below, the method accordingto the principles of the subject invention may be utilized by othertypes of devices or components that play audio from a multitude ofpre-recorded content, especially digital audio content, data and/orfiles.

DSP 12 may be programmed to perform a variety of signal processingfunctions during playback of a selected audio data file as well asselective segments or portions (i.e. audio clips) of audio data files.In this case, the functions that DSP 12 performs during playbackinclude, but are not limited to, decoding audio data files, volumecontrol, digital sound equalization, and sample conversion. The DSP 12also performs other functions necessary to implement the principles ofthe subject invention as well other typical functions not necessarilydiscussed herein. In that regard, DSP 12 includes onboard memory 1 1,wherein the decoder files, audio data files, audio clips, equalizer modeselection, and various other required data are loaded during playback.

The decoder files comprise programs that control the decoding operationsof DSP 12 the audio data files including audio clips include dataassociated with the audio content. Both the audio data files and thedecoder files may be stored in data storage device 32. The decoder fileincluding the programs is transferred to DSP memory 11 from data storagedevice 32. Alternatively, the decoder files may be stored in ROM 23, RAM11 or other suitable storage device of player 10. Further, the decoderfiles and other system files and programs may also be stored in SDRAM25, EEPROM 21 or other suitable storage devices coupled to DSP 12.

Audio data and decoder programs stored in data storage device 32 may beencrypted, requiring that decoding program files and audio data files bedecrypted by DSP 12 using one or more decryption keys. The decryptionkeys may also be stored in data storage device 32 and may be securitylinked to the particular storage device or some other coded component ofaudio data player 10 so that audio data files encrypted for use on aparticular audio data player may only be decrypted and played by thatparticular audio data player.

As a selected audio file is decoded, DSP 12 provides the decoded datastream to digital to analog converter 14. D/A converter 14 converts thedigital output of DSP 12 into an analog signal and provides the analogsignal to headphones amplifier 16 and lineout pre-amp 40. The analogsignals are amplified and provided to lineout jack 41 and headphoneshack 17, both disposed on housing 13 of audio player 10. It is to beunderstood that although the various elements are shown as separateelements, they may be combined and embodied in combination elements. Forexample, the microcontroller and the DSP may be implemented using asingle integrated circuit.

Audio player 10 is adapted to operate with data storage device 32. Inthis embodiment, data storage device 32 is a moving data storage device,specifically a hard drive, that can be used to store various data files,including encoded audio data files, decoder files for controlling thedecoding operation of DSP 12, playlist files, audio clips, and computerdata files. A large amount of data can be readily transferred betweendata storage device 32 and microcontroller 22 through data bus 33. Datastorage device 32 may also comprise any other suitable storage deviceand may be in removable form, for example a flash memory or amicrodrive. Buffer memory 25 operates as a circular data buffer toprevent interruption of audio playback caused by a skip or other similarmoving data storage device data transfer delays.

Moreover, buffer memory 25 receives and temporarily stores the audioclips taken from the selected audio data files. Buffer memory 25 thenprovides the audio clips to DSP 12 for sequential playback. Thus, buffermemory 25 continuously receives audio clip data for playback in theplaylist creation mode of audio data player 10. In this regard, buffermanagement is desired in order to avoid response time problems duringaudio clip playback. By keeping a predetermined amount of seconds of theprevious audio clip and the next audio clip in buffer memory 25, audiodata player 10 may skip immediately to the next audio clip when desired.The predetermined amount of time needed preferably equates to the timenecessary to load up the rest of the buffer memory. This may be on theorder of ten (10) seconds. When audio data player 10 is in an audio clipmode (e.g. during playlist creation, building or population), the audioclips are loaded into buffer memory 25 for the current set of audio datafiles and also an audio clip from at least one and possible two otheradjacent sets of audio data files in anticipation that the user may movein that direction.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the displays, buttons,switches, indicators and ports that may be disposed on housing 13 ofaudio data player 10 that are used as indicated herein to carry out theprinciples of the present invention. Particularly, one or more of thevarious buttons constitute a user interface or user input device forallowing the user to make selections appropriate for the particular modeof digital audio player 10. Particularly, referring to FIG. 2, userinput 26 comprises a plurality of buttons 44 (FIG. 3), 46 (FIG. 4) and60-77 disposed on housing 13 of audio data player 10 for allowing a userto sort and select particular audio data files for playback, to controlplayback settings, select a set or collection of audio data files,select preferences for attributes for playback of audio clips, inclusionor adding of identifying data representative of an associated audio datafile for a currently playing audio clip into a preferably, but notnecessarily, selectable playlist, skipping the inclusion of identifyingdata representative of an associated audio data file for a currentlyplaying audio clip, and/or other features and/or functions associatedwith a typical audio data player and the principles of the presentinvention.

User input 26 may also comprise other input devices known in the art,for example, keyboard, voice activated touch pad, and touch screen inputdevices. Two multi-way switches comprise buttons 62-66 and 68-72. Softkeys 74-77 are multi-function buttons whose function change for varioususer interface menu displays. Audio data player 10 also includes display21 disposed on housing 13. Display 21 displays the audio data files,playlists and audio clip information stored in data storage 32, thefunction of soft keys 74-77, and various status information associatedwith audio data player 10, such as the playback status shown in FIG. 2as well as top level menus.

In FIG. 2, STOP/POWER button 60 allows the user to stop playback and toturn audio data player 10 on and off. PLAY/PAUSE button 62 allows theuser to start playback and to pause playback. Left arrow button 62allows a user to move a highlight left when using the menu, and to skipback to the previous audio data file or audio clip, or scan backward inthe present audio data file when playing music. The right arrow button65 allows the user to move a highlight right when using the menu, skipforward to the next audio data file or audio clip, and scan forward inthe current audio data file when playing music. Up arrow button 64allows the user to move the highlight up when using the menu. Down arrowbutton 66 allows the user to move the highlight down when using themenu.

Referring still to FIG. 2, SELECT button 68 allows the user to select ahighlighted item. Volume up button 69 increases the playback volumelevel for headphone 18 and volume down button 71 decreases the volumelevel. MODE button 70 allows the user to select a particular playbackmode, including NORMAL, REPEAT, REPEAT ONE, REPEAT ALL, SHUFFLE, REPEATALL SHUFFLE, and playlist creation modes PLAYLIST CREATION, and AUDIOCLIP PREFERENCE SETTINGS. Soft keys 74-77 select the menu item thatappears just above each button at the bottom of display 21.

Referring to FIG. 3, POWER indicator 78 lights when audio player 10 ison. CHARGE indicator 79 lights when the power source 47 is charging. CDIN jack 48 provides 5 volt DC from an AC adaptor to power audio dataplayer 10. RESET button 44 allows the user to reset all of the audiodata player settings to the factory defaults.

Referring now to FIG. 4, OFF/LOCK switch 46 allows the user to makebuttons 60-77 inactive when switch 46 is slid to the locked position.LINEOUT jack 41 allows a user to connect the audio data player to aseparate audio system. Headphones jack 17 allows the user to play thedecoded audio on headphones 18. USB port 42 provides connection of audiodata player 10 to a PC or other similar device using a USB cable.

In accordance with the principles of the subject invention, the abovedescribed audio data player 10 is further operative to allow a user tocreate a playlist or playlists of or for audio data files using audioidentification or indicia. The present invention is particularlyadvantageous for use in a device having a relatively small display, orno display at all. It should be appreciated, however, that the presentmethod is also applicable to PC use, implemented as audio filemanagement software. The principles described herein with respect to thecreation of a playlist is thus applicable to the software implementationin a PC as well as the other devices mentioned herein. Likewise, theprinciples of playlist creation as described herein (as software and/orhardware) is applicable to other devices and/or components that utilizeaudio data files.

Generally, in order to initiate the method of the present invention, theaudio data player (or software with respect to a PC or otherdevice/component), is caused to be in (put into) a playlist creationmode by selecting the mode in the main menu. From the playlist creationmode, a new playlist by default or a user selectable old or new playlistis chosen. A set of audio data files is selected by the user, forexample, the songs by a particular artist, or in a particular genre oralbum. An audio clip (audio indicia or indication) from each one of theselected set of audio data files is then sequentially played. Duringplayback of an audio clip, the user may add the selection to theplaylist, for example, by pressing key 68 or a designated one of thekeys 74-77 as specified. Particularly, identifying data representativeof the audio file associated with the currently playing audio clip isadded to the playlist in response to user input. The identifying datamay be the well known data for generating a playlist, for example thepathnames associated with the selected songs. Each audio clip is thenplayed until the last audio clip is reached. In this manner, a playlistis assembled. Editing of a playlist may take the same form by allowing auser to delete a song in a playlist after hearing an audio clip of thesong. As well, it should be appreciated that the user may end thesequential playing at any time by for example, pressing the STOP key 60.

It will be assumed that a plurality of audio data files exist on audiodata player 10. As such, the selection of particular audio data files tosample (hear audio clips from) may be made individually or via a set ofaudio data files. A set of audio data files may be assembled through useof identification data such as that contained in an ID3 tag of an MP3encoded audio data file (or other similar manner) associated with theaudio data file. The present invention is applicable with any encodingformat (compressed audio data files) as well as uncompressed audio datafiles.

An example of the above will be described. The user may select aparticular album. Audio clips from each of the songs from that album areassembled (buffered accordingly) and start to play in album order. Whilethe audio clip is playing, a press of a designated key by the user willadd it to the playlist. Once it has been added, the audio playeradvances to the next song (audio clip) and so on until the end of thealbum (set) is reached. If the audio clip length is set to five (5)seconds and there are twelve (12) songs on the album, a playlist can becreated in less than 60 seconds.

As another example, the user selects one or all of artist, genre, oryear. Audio clips are assembled and played from that group. While theaudio clip is playing, user input adds the selection to the playlist.Once the playlist has been populated, the player advances to the nextgroup. Likewise, the user may skip the selection at any time duringplayback, which does not add the selection to the playlist but advancesplayback to the next song.

In an alternative embodiment, the selected audio track can be placed inone of a plurality of playlists by using a second key in addition to thefirst key (e.g. favorites key) that identifies a particular playlist.For example, if there is a numeric keypad, a selection of a numberwithin a predetermined period of time after pressing the Favorites Keyplaces the selected audio track into a particular playlist. For example,pressing the sequence “Favorite Key” and then the number “1” results inthe placement of the audio track in the first playlist. Other keysbesides numeric keys may be used to identify the playlist as desired.

The user may also modify default settings regarding the attributes ofthe audio clips to be played. Particularly, the length of time(duration) that each audio clip plays may have a default setting that isuser modifiable. The portion of the audio data file to which the audioclip will pertain (segment or offset of the audio data file) may have adefault or predetermined setting (e.g. play the first, middle or lastportion of the audio data file) which may be user modifiable.Alternatively, the portion of the audio file played may be selected tobe dependent upon the type of audio clip being played (e.g. genre,album, artist, etc.) Alternatively, the portion of the audio data fileplayed in the audio clip may be selected to be dependent on information(data or metadata) contained in an identification tag (e.g. an ID3 tag)associated with the audio data file or other information area of theparticular encoding format. Other attributes may be modifiable asappropriate. Thus, the characteristics of the playing of the audio clip(of a portion of the audio data file) may be customized by the user asdesired.

This invention may be implemented in a digital audio playback devicehaving the standard audio signal processing elements and a controlelement such as those described above. Various implementation parametersmay be modifiable such as audio prompts, audio clips and autoplay couldbe set up as user adjustable or selectable. Possible adjustmentparameters include clip duration (in seconds), where to start and/or howfar into a song to start playing an audio clip (i.e. where in the songto start the audio clip) and how many clips to allow in a play menu. Thedevice may be arranged to continue to play the audio clip until the userindicates the decision to add or not to add the song associated with theclip to the playlist by pressing, for example one of the keys designatedto indicate the song should be added, or a key designated to indicatethe song should not be added. Upon pressing either key, the devicebegins to play the next audio clip.

With respect to implementation of the present invention in PC audio datafile management software, exemplary manners of at least partialimplementation are presented. In one example, a list of songs is shownon the display. This could represent any collection of music such as alist, of songs representing an album sort, songs by a particular artist,a playlist or various other sorts or even random lists of songs. Bymoving the cursor over a selection, the system could be setup tooptionally play an audio clip from the highlighted item. While the audioclip is playing, a mouse button click would add the song to a workingplaylist. In another example, but with the same list as the firstexample, a left click on any item in the list will highlight the item.An automatic progression would then start an audio clip of a givenamount of time, which would then play from a given offset into the song.While the clip is playing, a right click of the mouse would add the itemto a working playlist. Once added, the curse would move on to the nextitem, or if not added, then it would move on to the next item at the endof the clip duration.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is depicted a flowchart, generally designated100, of a general manner of creating a playlist in accordance with theprinciples of the subject invention. Particularly, the flowchart 100depicts a general manner in which a playlist may be created, built,compiled, and/or edited in accordance with the principles of the subjectinvention.

In block or step 102, a set of digital audio data files is selected.This is typically accomplished by the user. Particularly, in response touser input, a set of digital audio data files is selected. In block orstep 104, an audio clip from each one of the selected audio data filesis sequentially played. In block or step 106, the user adds the audioclip to the playlist (wherein identifying data representative of thedigital audio data file associated with a currently playing audio clipis included into a playlist) through the user interface.

Of course, as indicated above, attributes of the audio clips to beplayed may be selected by the user prior to the selection of the set ofaudio data files. Such attributes include, but are not limited to, thelength of audio clip play time, the portion of the audio clip to beplayed, and/or the like.

It should be appreciated that the flowchart 100 described above anddepicted in FIG. 5 provides a complete manner of exemplary operation ofthe subject satellite receiving system as described herein. The subjectinvention may be implemented utilizing less or different steps than allof the steps of the flowchart 100. This may be reflected in the claims.Moreover, more or less steps in alternative embodiments of theprocedure, method or operation 100 may implement the subject inventionin accordance with the principles recited herein. As well, subsets ofthe above procedure 100 may implement the principles of the subjectinvention rather than the entire procedure. Variations are alsocontemplated.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design,the present invention can be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, of adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. For example, although various keys are shown forallowing user selection in the embodiment, it is clear that userselection of the songs may be performed using other methods of userinterface, for example, using a mouse, a touch screen, joystick,softkeys, etc. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains and that fallwithin the limits of the appended claims.

1. A method of compiling a playlist of digital audio data filescomprising the steps of: selecting a set of digital audio data files inresponse to a first user input; sequentially playing an audio clip fromeach one of the selected audio data files; and including identifyingdata representative of the digital audio data file associated with acurrently playing audio clip to the playlist of digital audio data filesin response to a second user input.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereineach audio clip is taken from a predetermined portion of its associatedaudio data file that is selectable by the user.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein each audio clip is taken from a portion of its associatedaudio data file according to an audio clip parameter of an associateddata tag of the audio data file.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein eachaudio clip is taken from a portion of its associated audio data filedepending on a genre characteristic of the audio data file.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein each audio clip is played for a predeterminedduration selectable by the user.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein eachaudio clip continues to be played until the user selects to add or notadd the associated audio data file corresponding to the currentlyplaying audio clip to the playlist.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of allowing user selection of one of a plurality ofplaylists to which to include the identifying data.
 8. A digital audiodata player comprising: a data storage device for storing a plurality ofdigitally encoded audio data files; a signal processing unit forreceiving a selected collection of the stored digitally encoded audiodata files, decoding an audio clip of each one of the stored digitallyencoded audio data files of the selected collection, and playing thedecoded audio clip of each one of the stored digitally encoded audiodata files; a user input device for accepting user input; and acontroller, coupled to the data storage device, the signal processingunit, and the user input device, for controlling the operation of thedata storage device and the signal processing unit in response to userinput, wherein the controller allows inclusion of identifying datarepresentative of the stored digitally encoded audio data fileassociated with a currently playing audio clip to a playlist ofdigitally encoded audio data files.
 9. The digital audio data player ofclaim 8, wherein the controller allows inclusion of identifying data toa user selectable playlist of digitally encoded audio data files of aplurality of playlists of digitally encoded audio data files.
 10. Thedigital audio data player of claim 8, wherein the controller isoperative to take each audio clip from a predetermined portion of itsassociated audio data file that is selectable by the user.
 11. Thedigital audio data player of claim 8, wherein the controller isoperative to take each audio clip from a portion of its associated audiodata file according to an audio clip parameter of an associated data tagof the audio data file.
 12. The digital audio data player of claim 8,wherein the controller is operative to take each audio clip from aportion of its associated audio data file depending on a genrecharacteristic of the audio data file.
 13. The digital audio data playerof claim 8, wherein the controller is operative to play each audio clipfor a predetermined duration.
 14. The digital audio data player of claim8, wherein the controller is operative to continue to play each audioclip until the user selects to add or not add the associated audio datafile corresponding to the currently playing audio clip to the playlist.15. In a digital audio data player, a method of compiling a playlist ofdigital audio data files comprising the steps of: allowing userselection of a plurality of audio data files; sequentially playing anaudio clip from each one of the selected plurality of audio data files;and during playing of an audio clip, populating a playlist withidentifying data representative of the stored audio data file associatedwith the currently playing audio clip in response to user input.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising the step of allowing userselection of one of a plurality of playlists to which to include theidentifying data.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein each audio clip istaken from a predetermined portion of its associated audio data fileselectable by the user.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein each audioclip is taken from a portion of its associated audio data file accordingto an audio clip parameter of an associated data tag of the audio datafile.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein each audio clip is taken froma portion of its associated audio data file depending on a genrecharacteristic of the audio data file.
 20. The method of claim 15,wherein each audio clip is played for a predetermined durationselectable by the user.
 21. The method of claim 15, wherein each audioclip continues to be played until the user selects to add or not add theassociated audio data file corresponding to the currently playing audioclip to the playlist.